patten



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. PATTEN. GAR AXLB BOX LUBRIOATOR.

No. 559,787. Patented May 5, 1896.

A TTOHNE YS.

ANDRIW lGRAHAM. PHOTO-UTM). WASJUNGTUVLD C (Muriel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A J. S. PATTEN. CAR AXLB BOX LUBRIGATGR. No. 559,787. Patented May 5, 1896.

/NVENTOH A TTOHNEYS.

ANuEw SYGRAMAMA PHOTO-WUWASRIEGTONQC,

UNTTED STATES JAMES S. PATTEN, OF

SELF-OIIJNG AXITE AND .IOIIRNAIJ SAME PLA CE.

PATENT @irren COMPANY OF .-AIIDIORE CITY, OF

CAR-AXLE-BOX LUBRlCAITDR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,787, dated May 5, 1896.

Application filed Octnber 2li, 1894. Serial No. 526,848.

To @ZZ whom it may concer/L.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. PATTEN, of altimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Car-AXle-BOX Iaibricator7 of which the followin gis a speci-- lication.

I have obtained two Letters Patent and filed an application for others for various important improvements in the class of car-axle lubrieators which are distinguished by oiltake-up rollers arranged to work in contact with the axle-journals. In the course of further practical test of my lubricators on cars in actual service I have devised and successfully employed certain novel features which contribute materially to the perfection of the invention. Said features constitute the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

The improvements relate, chieiiy, to the construction of the journal-cap employed in connection with the lubricant-receptacle or oil-box, and subordinately to the construction of the pivoted frame carrying the oiltake-up rollers,and the sprin g which supports the lubricant-holder in the car-axle box.

In the accompanying drawings, two sheets, Figure l is a central longitudinal section of my improved lubricator arranged in a caraxle box of awell-known constructiomwhich, together with the axle-journal, is shown in dotted lines for the sake of more clearly distinguishing my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the journal-cap detached, the oil-box being shown in dotted lines to illustrate a feature and operation hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a cross-section online 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. e is an enlarged vertical cross-section of my lubricator on line i 4f of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detailview illustrating the relative arrangement of the spring-supports of the journal-cap with brass or journalbearings. Fig. (5 is a detail side view of a portion of the roller-carrying frame, illustrating the manner of inserting and removing the rolleranles and rollers. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of theSL-shaped plate-spring which supports the oil-boil'.

The axle-box 1,'axle-journal 2, brass 3, and i wedge i (shown by dotted lines) sti-noted in a Welldcnown manner.

are con- The lu- (Model.)

brieant-hclder or oil-boxY A is preferably constructed of galvanized sheet-iron and provided with a vertical tapered hollow offset or lip uy at its front end, as shown and de- 5 5 scribed in my application, Serial No. 505,270, before referred to. Y

The parts embodying my present invention-to wit, the journal-cap B, the pivoted frame C, carrying the oil-talre-up rollers c, 6o and the S-spring D, which supports the oilboX A-have the same general arrangement relative to each other and to the numbered parts l to 4C as shown and described in my aforesaid application. Iwill now describe in 6 5 detail the improvements in the said journalcap B, roller-carrying frame C, and spring D in the order they are here named.

The position of the cap B is shown in Figs. l to 4, the hood or cap proper covering the 7o upper portion of the outer end of the axlejournal 2 and the wings extending alongside the latter and the lower edge of the entire cap lying within the upper edge of the oilbox A. In this instance the top and sides 7 5 of the cap B and the extensions or wings ZJ are made double and'ctherwise changed in construction, as I will proceed to detail. The end portion of Jche hood or cap proper, o, (see Fig. 2,) is a single plate, but the other por- 8o tions of the cap, as well as the wings, are

formed of two plates or walls which are separated by a narrow space. In the case of the hood the inner plate h of the top portion extends to and abuts the end of the brass 3, 85 while the outer one b2 projects farther and abuts the wedges. This construction-to wit, two walls separated from each other-is essential to prevent escape of oil. The plates or Walls b3 b4, Figs. 2, 3, and i, constituting 9o the wings, are not arranged parallel, but inclined outward from the lower edge upward, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the wings are practically wedge-shaped in crosssection. The inner plate or wall i# is eX- 95 tended higher than the outer one U3 and its upper edge bent inward, thus forming a horizontal ange h5, which lies in as close prorimity as practicable to the upper portion of the journal B, Figue, Without being in conroc tact with it. The chief function of this flange is to prevent oil being thrown outward; but

' united at the free endsof the latter, in order the plate covers the hole b8 to further facilitate return of oil into the oil-box. It will be noted from inspection of Fig. 4 that the space between the walls of the hood is continuous or one with the spaces between the walls b3 b4 of the wings, so that any oil that may iind its way into the .firstl named space will pass down into thewings, I

and thus back into the oil-box.

The cap B is provided with yielding or elastic supports inthe forms of two platesprings bs, which are arranged horizontally near the top and on opposite ysides of the hood or cap proper, being riveted to lateral flanges, Fig. 4, Iof the inner plate or wall of the hood. Thus the said springs are parallel to the wings andy their free ends project in the same direction las the latter, and being also bent downward and inclined backward for 'the double purpose of forming bearing-contact points and to enable the springs to easily ride or slide over the outer edge of the brass 3 when the cap is being put in place on the' journal 2.

TWhen the cap B is in place, the bent ends of the springs b rest upon the lateral proj-eci tions or lugs of the brass 3 (see Fig. 5) and the flanges h5 of the wings abut the side of the same. Thus the the cap so that the flanges h5 are held atcall times in firm contact with the lateral portions of the brass 3 and the cap as a whole is kept practically maintained in fixed relation to the journal yand the oil-box. This under springs support I result is aided by the before-described abut- .i

ment of the top walls b h2 of the hood with the brass 3 and wedge 4, as shown in Fig. l.

1 provide thej ourn al-cap B with a combined oil-guard and dust-exclud'er b?, (see Figs. l

and 4,) which isa right-angular `spring-plate j riveted at its upper end to the upper'portions of the end of the hood or cap proper, on the inner side thereof, and extending downward l to the lower edge of 'the sam-e.

cap, in which a hookis inserted for withdraw- The body of in the end of the v ing the yjournal-cap from the axle-box,1andf Thus serves to prevent escape of oil or en`` trance of dust at that point. The lower end bJof ythe plate projects forwardand is rounded to adapt it to fit in the hollow offset or lip a, so that it also serves to prevent escape of oil and admission of dust through said lip.

Willen it is desired to inspect the oil-box to determine whether a fresh supply Aof oil is required, also when it is desired to introduce suchsupply, a tool or rod 'is inserted through the hole bs topush back the by dotted lines, Fig. l.

Difficulty has been encountered in inserting the journal-cap B into the oil-box A by guard 117, as shown` 4 the sides of the oil-box they reason of the liability of the ends of the wings catching over or passing outside the side edges of the box. I have remedied the difculty by providing the wings with downward and inwardly-curved extensions Z210, Fig. 2, at the lower corners of their free extremities. Thus, when the cap is to be inserted, the said extensions easily enter the box, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and by sliding along guide the cap to place.

I preferably form the body of the cap-that is to say, all portions of it save the end of the l1ood--of one piece, the same being cut out, as a blank of proper conguration, from a sheet of metal by means of a stamping-dic, such blank being then bent or doubled at the lower edge of the wings to form the inner and outer walls before described; but I may in some instances form the body of the cap of 'two or more pieces, and in such case they will such insertion the roller-frame requires to be tilted at a considerable angle to enable it and the attached rollers to pass between the outer end of the box and the journal, and in consequence the roller-axles c tend to drop out of their bearings, whereby both axles and rollers fall into the oil-box, thus causing extra labor as well as delay and annoyance in recovering them. This result is effectually prevented by providing the ends of the parallel side bars `of the rolleref'ranie with curved extensions c2, which are in thenature of claws or fingers that projectl inward over the rectangular notches in which the roller-axles c' are normally held, and thus serve as guards which prevent the axles becoming accidentally dislodged. The axles, with rollers held loosely thereon, may, however, be easily -detached, when desired, (see Fig. 6,) by raising their ends vertically out of the notches and then turning' them horizontally. This operation is obviously reversed in order to insert the axles in their bearings.

In practically carrying out this part of my invention the notches or sockets vare made vertical, and the Aguard-lingers extend inward completely across them; but their points or extremities are separated from the adjacent edges of the side bars by a space which exceeds the narrowest diameter of the axlejour nals, so that the latter may be easily slid intoand out of the sockets; yet their-accidental escape, when the frame is tilted or even completely inverted, is effectual] y prevented.

The roller-frame C is preferably constructed of cast malleable iron, and in order to enable it to draw from 'the mold 'the prongs or fingers are cast straight and parallel, so that they IOO IIO

IZO

y box with comparatively little exertion.

aXle box in use its parts are introduced in the4 following order: First the oil-box A is inserted,then the roller-carryin g l' rame C and rollers @next the spring D, and, lastly, the journalcap lS. In this operation the spring D requires to be somewhat compressed or iiattened, which, owing to its strength, requires considerable force, and in such operation the.

bifurcated end portion (l of the spring is bent outward from the convoluted body of the same by reason of pressure against face of the journal-cap l5, over which said end of the spring must slide downward into place, Fig. l. The friction between the journal-cap and bifurcations of the spring is such that considerable difficulty is experienced in forcing the spring down into place. l have found by experi ment that this can be mainly overcome by constructing the terminals of the spring-bifurcations (l in cylindrical form, Figs. l and nthat is to say, the forked ends d of the spring (which are for such purpose made of greater length than heretofore) are bent or curved circularly outward, and thus their inner sides present smooth rounded surfaces which slide over the face of the journal 2 with comparatively little friction, and hence enable the spring D to be inserted into the axle- The cylindrical ends of the springs D also subserve another function in that they inclose or cover and also protect the upturned ends of a bifurcated reinforcing-spring and wearplate d. Such part d is a thin spring-plate applied to the under side and front end of the spring, being riveted at a point above the lower bend of the latter. It thus covers and protects such lower bend and prevents wear of the same, which would otherwise result from friction with the rough bottom of the axle-box. The bifurcations of the reinforced part CZ are held in due position as well as protected by the inclosing cylindrical terminals d. of the spring D.

AThat l claim isl. In a journal-lubricator, the improved journ al-cap, having a hood whose top portion is formed Vot two separated plates or walls which are adapted to ab ut the bearing-blocks, substantiallyT as shown and described.

il. In a j ournal-lubricator, the improved journal-cap, having longitudinal side extensions, or wings, constructed with double walls which are separated at the top, and provided with passages for return of oil into `the oilbox, substantially as shown and described.

In a j ourn al-lubricator, the improved journal-cap, having longitudinal side extensions or wings, which are trough-like in form and are open at the top, the inner wall of the same having lateral openings, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a journal -lubiica-tor, the improved journal-cap, having longitudinal side eXtensions, or wings, which are each provided with an inwardly-projecting flange, as shown and described.

5. In a journal-lubricator, the improved j ou rnal-eap, preferably form ed of sheet metal, and having a double-walled body and doublewalled side extensions, or wings, the space between the walls of the body communicating with those in the said wings, as shown and described.

G. In a journal-lubrieator, the improved journal-cap, having its wings provided with pendent inwardly-curved extensions, to serve as guides in placing the cap in position in the oil-box', substantially as shown and described.

7. In a journal-lubrieator, the improved journal-cap, provided with spring-supports arranged with their free bearing ends over the side wings, but separated from the latter by a space adapted to receive a supportingpiece, substantially as shown and described.

S. ln a journal-lubricator, the combination with the journal-cap, having a hole in the end or face of its hood portion, of a springplate attached to the inner side of said face, as shown and described, whereby said plate is adapted to serve as an oil-guard and dustexcluder, as specied.

9. In a journal-lubrieator, the combination with the j ournal-cap, and the oil-box having a hollow offset, or lip, at its front end, of the spring guard-plate attached to the end of the cap and its lower end normally proj eeting into the said offset, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with the oil-box, having a hollow oifset at its front end, and the journal-cap having a hole in the end of its hood, as specified, of a spring-plate, attached to hood on the inner side and having its lower end bent outward and shaped to iit in said oifset, substantially as shown `and described, whereby the plate subserves the functions hereinbefore specified.

1l. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with an oil-box, journal, and a bearingbloek applied to the latter, of the journalcap, having its hood constructed of two walls separated by a narrow spaceJ substantially as shown and described.

l2. ln a journal-lubricator, the combination with an oil-box, journal, and brass, or bearing-block, therefor, of the journal-cap, having spring-supports adapted to bear upon such block, and with abutments or shoulders below said supports, which bear upward against the under side of the block, substantially as shown and described.

IOO

IIO

13. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with a journal and brass or bearing-block thereon, of a j ournal-cap and springs attach ed to the sides of the hood portion of the latter, and having their free ends inclined backward, whereby they are adapted to ride over the edge of said block as specified.

l-I. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with an oil-box and journal, of a journalcap having longitudinal side extensions, or wings, which are double-walled, or troughlike, the walls being separated at the top as shown and described.

15. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with an oil-box and journal, of a journalcap having longitudinal trough-like side eK- tensions, or wings, having lateral oil-pas'- sages, the walls of said wings being separated at the top by a narrow space, and the inner walls provided with a flange projecting inward into close proximity to the journal as shown and described.

16. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with the oil-box having an open top and parallel sides, of a journal-cap having side wings provided with pendent extensions at their inner ends, substantially as shown and described.

17. In a j ournal-lubricator of the class hereinbcfore indicated, the roller-carrying frame having vertical notches or sockets in the ends of its side bars, and rigid guard-fin gers which project inwardly entirely across the upper side of such sockets, and which are perma- 'nently removed or separated, for their whole length, from the opposite side of the socket and bar by a distance greater than the narrowest diameter ofthe axle-journals, as shown and described, whereby the latter may be easily and quickly inserted or rcmoved,1nanually, but willnot be displaced when the rollerfranie is tilted, `as set forth.

18. In a journal-lubricator, the S-shaped plate-spring having the extremities of its front endsv constructed in cylindrical form as shown and described for the purpose specified.

19. In a journal-lubricator, the spring for supporting the oil-box, the same consisting of the S-shaped spring-plate, and the curved reinforce and wear-platesecured exteriorly to and conforming with the lower bend and -front end ot' said spring, as shown and dcscribed.

20. In a journal-lubricator, the combination with the axle-box, axle-journal and oilboX, of the S-shaped spring having the extremity of its front end bent or curved forward into cylindrical form, and the combined reinforce and wear-plate, applied to and conforming with the lower bend and front portion of said spring, and its upper extremity projectingiinto and being thus covered by the cylindrical portions, as shown and described.

JAMES S. PATTEN.

lVitiiesses:

MoRroN SCHAEFFER, THos. O. BAILEY. 

